On Account of those Rattlesnakes

[venomouselle.livejournal.com]

When: October 4th, near sunset
Rating: R for language, possible violence
Characters: Budd shit_stings and Elle venomouselle
Summary: Ride off into the sunset, but not in that sort of way.

She double checked twenty five pound leather satchel of mail resting on the broad hips of her gray gelding. Looked fine. Elle tapped ash off of her cigarette and moved to the other side. Looked fine there too. Everything was in order down to the last cartridge. But where was that traveling man? Tilting her wide brimmed hat, squinting in the early evening light. The sun would be setting soon. Slade nickered and stamped. "S'alright, babe," she cooed stroking his long neck. "We'll be outta here soon."

It was a little nice to have a companion on the long flat plains other than her steed. Sometimes other couriers would stay near for a few miles. But never for long.

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[shit-stings.livejournal.com]

Budd had been nearly searching for an excuse to head somewhere else, and occompanying a pretty courier was, maybe a bit sadly, the best excuse he'd come upon lately. He had a decent life here, though, or... Well, he had a decent job, one that beat his previous employment that had sustained him throughout his rambling across the country.

Whatever. He'd come back to it. Wasn't a bad town, this one. He had business with Beatrix, though, and he thought it would be a good idea to see his neice while he knew where they were housed. God knows with that bitch would pack up without a word and drag what was left of his brother's legacy from his view.

Pulling the rim of his white hat down, he approached the mail-carrier once again, armed and leading a horse of questionable value, considering that he'd confessed himself poor. "Howdy again, Lady."

[venomouselle.livejournal.com]

Elle spat and took a long last drag of her cigarette. "Howdy yerself, mister." Had they exchanged names? Some kind of deja vu tugged at her thoughts, but nothing large. He didn't look too harmful. She reckoned he was a head taller. But she had a fast trigger finger if needed be.

"Where'd you git that hunk a bones?" she vaguely gestured to the horse.

[shit-stings.livejournal.com]

He looked a bit puzzled at the question, and glanced over his shoulder at the horse. "Stable," he answered simply, "Borrowed from a friend o' mine." If it was a lie, his nonchalant tone on the matter let know that it didn't mean a lot, no time was petty arguement.

"'M Budd," he said after a moment, holding out his right hand.

[venomouselle.livejournal.com]

In a slow gait she approached and brushed passed his shoulder to pet the long face of the man's horse. "Ain't she a sweet ol' nag?"

Budd. Simple. It fit, she supposed while looking him over with her only means of seeing. "Nice t'meetcha. Name's Elle," she placed her hand in his for a handshake.

[shit-stings.livejournal.com]

"Careful," Budd's mouth turned up a quick smile, "Probably bites."

Elle had a firm hand-shake, and he smiled and finished the ritual, and rested a thumb through a belt-loop. "Well, then, Elle," he reaching into a pocket for a hip-flask, took a quick swallow, and offered to her, "To the journey? Ready to get this moving?"

[venomouselle.livejournal.com]

The chocolate colored mare looked like she could gum at you, it could pinch. Upon inspection and a nip at her elbow, the old nag proved to have teeth. "Thanks. I'll be more watchful nex' time." Maybe she wasn't ready for the glue factory.

"But o'course. Few rules though. You see trouble, gimme a heads up before ye shoot so I know where t'duck my head. Secondly, I ain't yer sweetheart or nothin' so no funny business, git me?" She spoke while walking back to Slade and taking a hold of the reins looping them onto the saddle horn. "Any questions or comments?"

[shit-stings.livejournal.com]

Budd shook his head, smiling lightly, "'Funny business,'" he started, as if the idea was unheard of when dealing with him, "Don't you know that the good boys wear the white hats?" Speaking of it, he moved his from his head and pushed his hair back before replacing it.

He laughed lightly at his own joking around, tucking the flask away and stepping up onto the great, borrowed beast. "But I ain't got no more questions for the moment, no."

[venomouselle.livejournal.com]

Once mounted, Elle caught his deliberate had adjustment. "I wasn't born yesterday," she replied a head shake and laugh of her own. "Besides, you mighta had yer hat cleaned."

Slade trampled and pawed, itching to get moving. Elle tugged his reins bringing him in full circle watching Budd mount. "Then let's put some miles behind us."